We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Totally-shocking!

Last night with my son (who has been pretty careless at university and need to start to rebuild his credit score) I was on-line looking at credit cards for bad credit. I'm came across a website called Totally-Money on Google. They claimed to "Compare EVERY Card for Bad Credit" so we went to check them out.

Now, I've always used Money-Supermarket (and MSE) myself so I couldn't figure why they would have more than them. And after hearing on the Money Programme (Radio 4) about how Compare-The-Market and Confused.Com are actually owned by insurance companies I thought I'd do some investigating.

What I found I think is shocking. The reason they supposedly have more products is that 2 of the cards on their site are actually THEIR products! The Luma card and the Granite card are basically Totally-Money products. The cards are supplied by MI MONEY LIMITED (06967012), EASTCASTLE HOUSE 27-28, LONDON. Whereas Totally-Money is owned by MEDIA INGENUITY LIMITED (06205695), EASTCASTLE HOUSE 27-28, LONDON.

Basically the same company!

They don't tell us that the products are THEIR own. So they are effectively pushing people to get THEIR inferior products using their "socalled" comparison tables. They have THEIR Luma card at the top of their bad credit table with the message "Compare the UK’s Top Credit Building Cards" - Implying the Luma is the best product even though the interest rate is 6% HIGHER than the Barclay Card Initial Card! What's worse is that CAPITAL ONE and VANQUIS BANK also seem to be in on the deception as they are running the cards for MI.

Surely abusing peoples trust like this is illegal - or at least it should be. My son has me to watch out for him, but what about those individuals would aren't financial literate?

Is this something for Watchdog or the FSA - because I for one think it is disgusting?
«1

Comments

  • fhansall wrote: »
    Last night with my son (who has been pretty careless at university and need to start to rebuild his credit score) I was on-line looking at credit cards for bad credit. I'm came across a website called Totally-Money on Google. They claimed to "Compare EVERY Card for Bad Credit" so we went to check them out.

    Now, I've always used Money-Supermarket (and MSE) myself so I couldn't figure why they would have more than them. And after hearing on the Money Programme (Radio 4) about how Compare-The-Market and Confused.Com are actually owned by insurance companies I thought I'd do some investigating.

    What I found I think is shocking. The reason they supposedly have more products is that 2 of the cards on their site are actually THEIR products! The Luma card and the Granite card are basically Totally-Money products. The cards are supplied by MI MONEY LIMITED (06967012), EASTCASTLE HOUSE 27-28, LONDON. Whereas Totally-Money is owned by MEDIA INGENUITY LIMITED (06205695), EASTCASTLE HOUSE 27-28, LONDON.

    Basically the same company!

    They don't tell us that the products are THEIR own. So they are effectively pushing people to get THEIR inferior products using their "socalled" comparison tables. They have THEIR Luma card at the top of their bad credit table with the message "Compare the UK’s Top Credit Building Cards" - Implying the Luma is the best product even though the interest rate is 6% HIGHER than the Barclay Card Initial Card! What's worse is that CAPITAL ONE and VANQUIS BANK also seem to be in on the deception as they are running the cards for MI.

    Surely abusing peoples trust like this is illegal - or at least it should be. My son has me to watch out for him, but what about those individuals would aren't financial literate?

    Is this something for Watchdog or the FSA - because I for one think it is disgusting?

    I know it's totally shocking I am not sure how you sleep at night this is damn right outrageous and extremely out of order behaviour:p
  • I dont think you'll find a comparison site out there which is genuinely impartial.
  • opinions4u
    opinions4u Posts: 19,411 Forumite
    You're so totally shocked you're hashtag epically over-reacting!
  • i wouldnt pay too much attention to the comparison sites, (money supermarket) i was recommended a bunch of sub prime cards two of which ive already had for a couple of years. Unimpressed, i went off to the natwest site and was accepted for a 0% spend/transfer card and the same again the next day with a nationwide card.
  • _Andy_
    _Andy_ Posts: 11,150 Forumite
    I think you should bold some more of the text.
  • Hooloovoo
    Hooloovoo Posts: 1,281 Forumite
    I find it more shocking that a graduate needs his Dad to financially "watch out for him".
  • All these sites do is bring together all of the cards in a list to make it easier. It is up to the user to compare deals etc closely. And the APR for all of the cards will only be 'typical' anyway. It is impossible for these sites to judge exactly which card will be best/cheapest for each user.
  • exel1966
    exel1966 Posts: 5,060 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I get the distinct feeling that people here are taking the P i s s !!!

    I can't think why ;)
  • Epic thread.
    SwagBucks Challenge: 402/849
    Updated 31/08/2012
    Joined 06/07/2012
    Total: £40 Amazon Vouchers
  • meer53
    meer53 Posts: 10,217 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    fhansall wrote: »
    Last night with my son (who has been pretty careless at university and need to start to rebuild his credit score) I was on-line looking at credit cards for bad credit. I'm came across a website called Totally-Money on Google. They claimed to "Compare EVERY Card for Bad Credit" so we went to check them out.

    Now, I've always used Money-Supermarket (and MSE) myself so I couldn't figure why they would have more than them. And after hearing on the Money Programme (Radio 4) about how Compare-The-Market and Confused.Com are actually owned by insurance companies I thought I'd do some investigating.

    What I found I think is shocking. The reason they supposedly have more products is that 2 of the cards on their site are actually THEIR products! The Luma card and the Granite card are basically Totally-Money products. The cards are supplied by MI MONEY LIMITED (06967012), EASTCASTLE HOUSE 27-28, LONDON. Whereas Totally-Money is owned by MEDIA INGENUITY LIMITED (06205695), EASTCASTLE HOUSE 27-28, LONDON.

    Basically the same company!

    They don't tell us that the products are THEIR own. So they are effectively pushing people to get THEIR inferior products using their "socalled" comparison tables. They have THEIR Luma card at the top of their bad credit table with the message "Compare the UK’s Top Credit Building Cards" - Implying the Luma is the best product even though the interest rate is 6% HIGHER than the Barclay Card Initial Card! What's worse is that CAPITAL ONE and VANQUIS BANK also seem to be in on the deception as they are running the cards for MI.

    Surely abusing peoples trust like this is illegal - or at least it should be. My son has me to watch out for him, but what about those individuals would aren't financial literate?

    Is this something for Watchdog or the FSA - because I for one think it is disgusting?

    Why do you find it shocking that a company promotes their own products ? I'm sure it's called "marketing" ?

    Can't see what the problem is myself.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 351.8K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454K Spending & Discounts
  • 244.7K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.2K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.3K Life & Family
  • 258.4K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.